Anatomical adjusting machine



Sept' 25, 1934- G. s. GILLBERG v ANATOMI'CAL A-DJUSTINGl MACHINE .Filed 0G12. 19, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 www.

INVEzyToR;

ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 25,1934. G. s. GILLBx-:RG

ANATOMICAL ADJUSTING MACHINE Filed oct. 19. 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS,

SePf- 25, 1934- G. s. GILLBERG 1,974,774

f ANATOMICAL ADJUSTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 19, 1931l 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I NVEN TOR BY Wl/QQ A TTORNE YS.

Patentecl Sept. 25, 1934 UNITEo STATES *PATENT OFFICE ANTOMICAL ADJUSTING ll/LLXCIHISIEA Gustaf S. Gillberg, Los Angeles, Califr Application October 19, 1931, Serial' No. 569,776`

i 13 claims; (o1. 12s- 84) This invention relates to and;` has fora pur,- pose the provision of a machine foruseby the medical profession, and structurally characterized by the provision of mechanism enabling broken bones to be accurately set, dislocated joints readjusted, and various parts of the body articulated and yieldingly stretched Variable amounts under variable loads as desired in accordance with the requirements of avparticular operation.

It is a further purpose of this invention to provide a machine of the above described character wherein the stretching operation is accomplished by a smooth pulling movement alternately applied and relieved; the machine being adjustable during use upon a patient, to vary the length of stroke and the pulling force irn-L posed on the patient,y with the utmost ease and convenience. i ,-i i

It is another purpose of the invention to provide an anatomical adjusting machine enabling the manual actuation of its mechanism Ito be readily effected in aV manner particularly of value in obtaining accurate alinement of broken bones following an initial rough setting under i power operation of the mechanism.

Only one form of this invention will be described `and the novel features thereof then v in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional View of one of a plurality of springtension con* nections embodied in the machine.

Figure 6 is1a transverse sectional viewtaken on `the line 6-6 of Figure 5. i

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 7--7 of Figure l and looking in the directionV of the arrows; and u Figure 8 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows. v Y

Referring specifically to the drawings in which similar reference characters designate similar v parts `in each of `the several views, this invention in its present embodiment comp-rises a box frame F of metal enclosed by a cabinet C `and providing a support for a plurality of anatomical adjusting units U, U', and U2, the units being operated from a common source of power and 60 enabling various parts of a patients body to be adjusted concurrently. The units are all of identical construction so that a detailed description of one will suffice for all.V However, toV distinguishlike parts of the different units 65 from each other the reference characters designating the parts of two of the units are provided with different exponents.

Each unit comprises a carriage 1U slidably mounted between guide bars 11 of the frame F for 70 reciprocating movement horizontally from the extreme position shown in full lines in Figure 3 to that shown in broken lines in this figure. The carriage is provided with a vertical web which projects freely through a longitudinal slot 12 in 75, the top wall 13 of the cabinet C, and the web is provided at its upper end with a saddle 14 in which is seated and is detachably secured the casing l5 of a spring tension connection designatedgenerally at S. Pivoted to the carriage by 30l means of a pin and slot connection 16 is one end of a lever 17 and slidably mounted on the lever for adjustment longitudinally thereto to vary the fulcrum point of the lever is a fulcrum member 18 in the form of a sleeve. Pivotally connected 85, at 19 to the fulcrum member is one end of a second and supporting lever 20, the opposite end of which is pivoted on a fixed axis formed by va transverse shaft 21 common to the three units U, U', and U2. Intermediate its ends, the lever 20 is 9()` pivotally connected` at 22 to one endof a link 23, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected at `24to a nut 25 mounted on a vertical feed screw 26 journaled in suitable bearings in the frame and ina tubular standard 27 supported on the top 95 wall 13 `of the cabinet.Y The nut 25 is provided with a bfurcateclfextension28 which receives a vertical guide rod 29 supported by the frame F and co-acting with the extension 28 to prevent rotation of the nut so that in response to rotation 100 of the feed screw 26 by a hand wheel 30 at the upper end of the standard 27, the nut will be fed axially ofthe feed screw. v

This axial feeding of the nut will cause the link 23 to move the lever 20 about the axis of the 105 shaft 21 and hence move the fulcrum member `18 along thelength of `the lever 17 to vary the fulcrum point of the latter for the purpose of varyf, ing lthe stroke of the carriage. The lower end of the lever 17 is provided with a roller 31 which 11G rides upon the peripheral surface of a cam 32 in the form of a disk fixed eccentrically to a shaft 33 common to the units U, U', and U2. The shaft 33 is journaled in bearings 34 secured to the frame F and xed to the shaft adjacent one end thereof and within a housing 35 is a worm wheel 36 with which constantly meshes a worm 37 fixed to a vertical shaft 38 journaled in the housing 35. The upper end of the shaft 38 is provided with a large pulley 39 about which is trained an endless belt 40 also trained about a small pulley 41 fixed to the shaft of an electric motor 42 rigidly supported by one of the bearings 34. It will be clear that when current is supplied to the motor 42, that the shaft 33 is rotated at a relatively slow speed to cause the cam 32 to co-act with the roller 31 in rocking the lever 17 about the axis provided by the fulcrum member 18 to move the carriage from the position shown in broken lines in Figure 3 to that shown in full lines in this figure, this movement of the carriage constituting its power stroke.

The carriage is normally urged in a direction reversed from that to which it is moved by the cam, by means of a coil spring 43 fixed at one end to a rod 44 common to the three units U, U', and U2 and trained over a grooved sheave 45 freely rotatable on a shaft 46 also common to the three units. The opposite end of the spring is connected to a link 47, in turn connected to an ear 48 depending from the carriage so as to provide the operative connection between the latter and spring. It will thus be clear that the spring in urging the carriage in one direction will maintain the roller in engagement with the cam for movement of the carriage positively by the cam in the reverse direction.

For the purpose of indicating the length of stroke imparted to the carriage in accordance ywith adjustment of the fulcrum member 18, a flexible metallic tape is trained about a pulley 49 freely rotatable on a shaft 50 common to the three units, the pulley projecting freely through a slot 51 in the top wall 13 of the cabinet C. The exposed portion ofthe pulley is enclosed by an arcuate shaped casing 52 having a slot therein through which the tape can be viewed and an index projection 53 adapted to co-act with suitably numbered graduations on the tape. The tape depends from the pulley in two stretches, one of which is connected by a link 54 to the lever 20 and the other of which is connected to a coil `spring 55 secured to a rod 56 common to the three units. The spring 55 serves to yieldingly maintain the tape in a taut condition so that according as the lever 20 is moved about the axis of the shaft 21 to effect an adjustment of the fulcrum member 18, the'tape will be moved a proportion- 'ate amount for its graduations to co-act with the index projection 53 in indicating the length of stroke for which the carriage has been adjusted.

The carriage 10 isadapted to be moved manuallyin one direction and independently of its movement by the cam 32 for use in the final setting of broken bones'following a rough setting of the bones by power. To this end a nut 57 is slidably mounted on adjacent guide bars 11 and has threaded therethrough a feed screw 58 journaled in and projecting from the front wall 59 of the cabinet C, the outer end of this feed screw having a hand wheel 60 by which it can be rotated to axially feed the nut 57 against the forward end of the carriage 10 following which continued feeding of the nut will move thel carriage therewith; This movement Aof the carriage manually merely serves to move the lever 17 accordingly about the fulcrum 19 thus moving the roller 31 out of contact with the cam 32, all against the action of the spring 43. It will be understood that following such manual adjustment of the carriage, it is necessary that the nut 57 be fed to the extreme position shown in Figure 3 so as to be beyond the range of movement of the carriage by the cam.

The spring tension connection S for each of the units U, U', and U2 comprises the casing 15 above referred to which is in the form of an open ended cylinder having its ends closed by threaded caps 61 and 62. Axially through the cap 62 extends a tubular shank 63 of a clamping head 64 having yspaced apart ears 65 projecting upwardly therefrom and spanned by a pivot pin 66 on which is pivotally mounted a clamping arm 67 terminating in a handle 68 by which the arm can be manually manipulated to frictionally grip or release the strap 69 of a harness (not shown) adapted to be connected to a part of the patients body to be treated. Journaled axially in the cap 61 is a feed screw 70 having its outer end reduced in diameter as indicated at 71 to receive a hand wheel 72 by which the feed screw can be rotated. The feed screw projects freely into the tubular shank 63, and threaded on the feed screw is a nut 73 having a radial projection 74 extending into a longitudinal slot 75 in the casing 15, for co-action with the slot in preventing rotation of the nut, so that upon rotation of the feed screw 70 the nut will be fed axially thereof. A coil spring 76 is disposed in the casing with one end abutting the cap 62 and its other end abutting an annular flange 77 formed on a cup- 78 slidably mounted on the tubular shank 63. A second and relatively weak coil spring 79 is mounted in the cup 78 with one end of this spring abutting the bottom wall of the cup and the other end of the spring abutting a disk 80 confined against displacement from the inner end of the shank 63 by means of a nut 31 threaded on the latter. The disk 80 is provided with a pointer 82 projecting freely through the slot 75 for co-action with numbered graduations on the casing and indicating in pounds the load for which the springs are adjusted.

In the position of the nut 73 as shown in Figure 5 all load upon the springs 76 and 79 has been removed, and it will be clear that as the feed screw 70 is rotated in a direction to feed the nut '73 to the right as viewed in this gure, that the nut will first abut the inner end of the shank 63 'and will then move the shank to first compress the spring 79 until the disk 80 engages the ange 77, after which the spring '76 will be compressed and thus placed under load. 1n co-njunction with the clamping head 64 of each of the units U, U', and U2, a second clamping head 83 is provided and is rigidly supported from the cabinet C by a bracket 35 so as to be disposed at a higher elevation than the clamping head 64. The clamping head 83 is provided with a pivoted clamping arm 84 identical in construction to the clamping arm 67, and it will be noted from Figure 3 that the strap 69 is first passed between the clamping head 64 and clamping arm 67 and its free 'end then extended between clamping head iis 83 and the clamping arm 84 with a sufficient .i

amount of the strap extending from the clamp- I' ing head 83 to enable the free extremity of the strap to be 'grasped by the operator. It is to be noted that the clamping arms 67 and 84 normally tendto wedge the strap against the rello dit

spective clamping heads under the action of gravity.

The operation. of the machine is as follows:

With the strap 69 leading from the harness attached to the part of a persons body to be treated, and the strap associated with the clamping heads 64 and 83 as shown in Figure 3, the stroke of the carriage 10 is adjusted by manipulation of the hand wheel 30, and the spring 76 unloaded or loaded to the extent desired, after which current is supplied to the motor 42. The carriage will now be reciprocated and it will be clear that during the power stroke or movement of the carriage toward the left as viewed in Figure 3, that a yielding pull willbe exerted on the strap 69 to effect stretching the part of the patients body to which the harness is connected. 0n the return or idle stroke of the carriage under the action of the spring 43, the pulling force will be partly or Wholly relieved from the strap depending on the loading of the spring 76, and in order to remove any slack occurring in the strap 69' as a result of the stretching operation during the power stroke or the carriage, the free extremity of the strap is grasped by the opern ator and the strap held taut during the sucn seeding idle stroke of the carriage thus allowing the strap to shift relative to the clamping heads. During the following power stroke .of the carriage the clamping arm 67 automatically grips the strap so as to again exert a yielding pull upon the latter, the slack Vbeing taken up by maintaining taut that portion of the strap between the clamping arms 6'? and 84.

`Should it be desired to exert a yielding pull upon the strap manually, the operation of the inotor is discontinued with the carriage disposed at or near the end of its idle stroke, after which 'the hand wheel is manipulated to cause the nut 57 to coact with the carriage in moving the latter towards the left as viewed in Figure 3, which movement is the equivalent of its power stroke. This movement of the carriage manually can be very'accuratelygauged by proper manipulation of the hand wheel 60 so that theL iinal setting of broken bones following a rough setting thereof under power can be accurately eiected.

It will be manifest that various parts of a patients body can be treated concurrently by attaching the harness to the carriages of the units U, U', and U2 through the medium of straps, and that the strokes of the respective carriages `can be varied individually as desired `for a particular part of the body to be treated.

It is to be noted that the straight line or reciprocating movement imparted to the carriage, is a decided advantage over other forms of movements, as by its use all lateral displacement of the tissues being stretched, is prevented, to the end oi' avoiding irritation of the tissues and possible injury to ragged edges of broken bones during a setting operation.

It is also to be noted that the structure and mode of operation of the spring tension connection is of particular importance as by the provisien of the springs '76 and 79, the efiiciency and range of use of the device is materially increased. The relatively light spring 79 enables very delicate stretching operations to be performed without i danger of injury to joints such as those of the springs unloaded as shown in Figure 5, or the spring '79 loaded to any extent desired up to a maximum of 50 lbs. beyond which point it will be compressed suiiiciently for the disk 80 to abutthe ilange 77 of the cup 78. For more powerful stretching operations, the spring 76 is utilized and loaded as desired up to a maximum of 225 lbs. beyond which load it is fully compressed and a solid connection formed instead of one which is yieldable to the extent resulting from. the amount of loading of one or both springs. i

j Although only one form of this invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that various changes and modications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. An anatomical adjusting machine comprising: a carriage having means to which a harness is adapted to be connected; means for mounting the carriage for reciprocating movement; a lever fulcrumed intermediate itsends and operatively connected to the carriage; means for rocking the lever to eiTect reciprocation of the carriage; and means by which the fulcrum of the lever can be adjusted longitudinally of the lever to vary the fulcrum point of the latter and hence vary the stroke of the carriage. Y

2. An anatomical adjusting machine comprise ing: a carriage having means to which a harness is adapted to be connected; means for mounting the carriage for reciprocating movement; a lever operatively connected to the carriage; a second lever pivoted on a xed axis; a fulcrum member to which the second lever is pivotally connected, mounted on the first lever for adjustment longitudinally thereof; means for adjusting the second lever about its xed axis to vary the position of the fulcrum member along the length of the first lever and hence vary the fulcrum of the latter; and means for actuating the rst lever to eifect movement of the carriage.

3. An anatomical adjusting machine comprising: a carriage having means to which a harness is adapted to be connected; means for mounting the carriage for reciprocating movement; a lever operatively connected to the carriage; a second lever pivoted on a xed axis; aA fulcrum member to which the second lever is pivotally connected, mounted on the first lever for adjustment longitudinally thereof; a feed screw; a nut mounted on the screw for feeding axially thereof in response to rotation of the screw; a link connected to the nut and to the second` lever for moving the latter about its fixed axis in response to axial feeding of the nut, whereby to vary the position of the fulcrum member along the length of the iirst lever and hence vary the fulcrum of the latter; and means for actuating the first lever to effect reciprocation of the carriage.

4:..An anatomical adjusting machine comprising: a carriage having means to which a harness is adapted to be connected; means for mounting the carriage for reciprocating movement; a lever operatively connected to the carriage; a second lever pivoted on a fixed axis; a fulcrum member to which the second lever is pivotally connected, mounted on the rst lever for adjustment longitudinally thereof; meansfor adjusting the second lever about its xed axis to vary the position of the fulcrum member along the length of the i-lrst lever and hence vary the fulcrum of the latter; means for actuating the rst lever to effect movement of the carriage; and means for indicating the length of stroke of the carriage in accordance With the position of adjustment of the ulcrum member.

5. An anatomical adjusting machine comprising: a carriage having means to which a harness is adapted to be connected; means for mounting the carriage for reciprocating movement; a lever operatively connected to the carriage; a second lever pivoted on a fixed axis; a fulcrum member to which the second lever is pivotally connected, mounted on the first lever for adjustment longitudinally thereof; means for adjusting the second lever about its nxed axis to vary the position of the fulcrum member along the length of the first lever and hence vary the ulcrum of the latter; means for actuating the rst lever to effect movement of the carriage; a flexible indicating member; a pulley over which the indicating member is trained; means for connecting the indicating member to the second lever; and means for yieldingly maintaining the indicating member taut for operation in indicating the length of stroke of the carriage as determined by the position of adjustment or" the fulcrum member.

G. An anatomical adjusting machine comprising: a carriage having means to which a harness is adapted to be connected; means for mounting the carriage for reciprocating movement; a rotary cam; a lever operatively connected to the carriage and actuated; by the cam to move the carriage to one extreme position in response'to rotation of the cam; means for changing the co-aoting relationship of the lever to the cam to vary the stroke or the carriage; means for urging the carriage to its other extreme position and maintaining tie lever in operative engagement with the cam; a feed screw; and a nut mounted` on the feed screw for feeding axially thereof in response to rotation of the feed screw; the nut being disposed to engage and move the carriage towards the iirst mentioned extreme position in response to rotation of the feed screw in one direction.

7. In a machine of the character described: a casing; a clamping head to which a harness is adapted to be secured, having a tubular shank slidable axially in the casing; a spring in the cas ing for urging the clamping head to a retracted position; a feed screw jcurnaled in the casing to project into said shank and conned against axial movement; a nut threaded on the feed screw and coniined against rotation for axial feeding in response to rotation of the reed screw, lto engage the shank of the clamping head and move the latter towards an advanced position against the action of the spring, whereby to increase the strength of the latter.

'8. A machine of the Ycharacter described comprising: a clamping head to which a harness is adapted to be secured; means for mounting the head for movement from one extreme position to another, means for actuating the mounting means; and a yieldable connection between the head and mounting means including relatively light and heavy springs associated to be placed under load in successive order; and means by which the relatively light spring can be loaded to a predetermined maximum and the relatively heavy spring then loaded to a predetermined mELXlml/lm.

9. A machine of the character described comprising: a clamping head to which a harness is adapted to be secured; means for mounting the head for movement from one extreme position to another, means for actuating the mounting means; and a yieldable connection between the head and mounting means including relatively light and heavy springs associated to be placed under load in successive order; means by which the relatively light spring can be loaded to a predetermined maximum and the relatively heavy spring then loaded to a predetermined maximum; and means for indicating the loading of the springs.

l0. In a machine of the character described: a casing; a clamping head to which a harness is adapted to be secured, having a shank slidable axially in the casing; relatively light and heavy springs in the casing co-acting with the shank and casing to urge the head to one extreme position; and means by which the springs can be successively loaded to predetermined maximums.

1l. fn a machine of the character described: a head to which a harness is adapted to be secured; a mounting for the head; a yieldable operative connection between the head and mounting including krelatively light and heavy springs cc-acting to urge the head to one extreme position; and means by which the springs can be loaded in successive order to a predetermined maximum.

12. In a machine of the character described; a head to which a harness is adapted to be secured; a mounting for the head; springs of different strengths providing a yieldable operative connection between the head and mounting for urging the head to one position; and means by which the springs can be Variably loaded.

13. ln a machine of the character described; a head to which a harness is adapted to be secured; amounting for the head; a plurality of springs providing a yieldable operative connection between the head and mounting for urging the head to one position; and means for loading the springs in vsuccessive order.

GUSTAF S. GILLBERG. 

